Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has admitted that he may lose one of his best players in the transfer window.
Pardew has told the St James’ Park faithful that he will fight to keep his best players, but there is concern that midfielder Cheick Tiote is attracting attention from Chelsea and Arsenal.
Tiote, who hopes to return after a seven-game absence with a knee injury to face Swansea on Saturday, signed a five-year deal earlier in the year and Pardew has built his squad around the Ivory Coast enforcer.

But the manager admitted he can give no guarantee he will stay. Pardew said: ‘You never know with the window — it’s such a minefield of possibilities. I think I’ve learned from the Andy Carroll situation and outside of Manchester City, every club has a player that is vulnerable.
‘We have one or two players here that top clubs, I’m sure, would be interested in.
‘The one thing I would say is that they will have to pay a lot of money to take anyone out of here because we’re in a good position — not just on the playing side but financially.

SOURCE: Daily Mail

Other sources are reporting that Arsene Wenger is readying a bid for the Newcastle United man as he looks to add more steel to his Arsenal midfield. The Ivory Coast international made an instant impact in his first season in the Premier League last term and is perhaps best known for his long range leveler against the Gunners last term in the dramatic 4-4 draw.

Though Wenger has Alex Song to count on to act as a enforcer it appears that Frenchman is hoping to bring in another battler to help act as protection for the club’s more creative talents.

Wenger also has youngster Emmanuel Frimpong to call upon but the teenager is perhaps too raw to be considered as a first team regular.

To hear Alan Pardew talking so honestly about the possibility that owner Mike Ashley could accept offers for Tiote will no doubt encourage sides to make offers for the 25 year old and even though the Magpies have started the campaign well there is every chance that the St James’ Park side may consider bids for the former FC Twente man.

Pardew has done an excellent job this season given that over the summer he lost crucial players such as Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique. It is worth noting that Newcastle United have greatly missed Tiote during his absence through injury, the North-East club didn’t lose any of the nine Premier League matches that he started but have lost three of the six games he hasn’t appeared in, such is his obvious importance to the club.

Though Tiote would be out for a good six week period during the African Nations Cup he is still apparently a player who interests both Arsenal and Chelsea ahead of the transfer window re-opening next month.